Wednesday, October 13, 2010

ARTIS GILMORE INDUCTED

INTO THE KENTUCKY ATHLETICS

HALL OF FAME - 2011 CLASS.

The selection committee and the board of directors of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame have announced that Artis Gilmore has been selected to be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame - 2011 class. An induction banquet will be held on June 8, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza, Louisville, Kentucky.

The mission of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame is twofold:

— To recognize those individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports and have achieved a high standard of athletic success representing the honored traditions of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

— To support, in a meaningful way, Kosair Charities, which supports world class medical care for thousands of children throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

In 2005 the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame inducted the 1975 Kentucky Colonels --- as an entire team --- on the 30th anniversary of their American Basketball Association championship. The 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels, led by Artis Gilmore, gave Louisville its only major-league sports championship.

Artis Gilmore began his professional career with the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association for the 1971-72 season, signing a record high-paying contract. He was so immediately dominant that he earned the rare distinction of being selected both the Rookie of the Year award and the league Most Valuable Player award for his first season.

Over his five-year ABA career, Artis led the ABA four times in rebounding average, twice in both field goal percentage and blocks per game, and once in personal fouls. He was named to the All-ABA First team five straight seasons, and the All-Defense team four times. He played in the ABA All-Star Game all five years he was in the league, earning the 1974 game's MVP.

The capstone of his time in the ABA was leading the 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels to the 1975 ABA championship and being named the ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player.

During his days as an ABA dominator, Artis established league records for career field goal percentage (0.557), career blocked shots (750), blocked shots in a season (287 in the 1973-74 season), and rebounds in a game (40).